Furniture construction



Aug. 11, 1925.

T.JH. WlTTLlFF FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Apri123, 1925 INVENTOR.Theodore J7. aj/fifl ff.

. I 'ATTOR1VEY6.

Patented Aug. 11, 1925..

I 1,549,402 PATET ,FFicE.

THEODORE H. WITTLIFF, 01E GLEVELANDZ OHIO.

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed April 28, 1925. ,Serial No. 25,348.

To all "whom; it may concern:

Be it ,known that I, THEODORE H. Wrr'r- LHF, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of-Cleveland, county of Cu ahoga, and State ofOhio, have invented a i}w and useful Improvement in Furniturenstruction, of which the following is a specification, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the best mode in' which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions. I

This invention relates to furniture construction. More. particularly itcomprises means for securing the side and corner members of an articleof furniture to each other without the use of glue or the usual cornerblocks and other fastening elements. The device is also adapted to useas a reinforcing means for articles of furniture, having itsv memberssecured in the usual manner, but omitting the corner blocks.

Chairs, bedsteads, and other articles of furniture of similar character,when the frame members thereof are secured by means of glue, arefrequently found to become loosened and to develop a considerable degreeof lost motion which causes such. furniture to squeak as well as to giveto the user thereof an uncomfortable sense of insecurity.

The present invention provides means of ,fastening the structuralelements of such articles of furniture to each other in animprovedmanner so that any lost motion between theparts may be taken up, andwhich, atthe same time, results in greater economy of construction and amore rigid connection between the several portions of the frame than canotherwise be obtained.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple ofthe invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a. chairconstruction in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview showing in enlarged detail one of the corner plates employed in theconstruction; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view 'showin one form oftensioning element employed;

side elevation partially in section of said tensioning element; Fig. 5is an enlarged deplate 1 having an angular central portion 2 adapted tofit over the inner edge .of the corner post 3 of an article offurnlture, and having adjacent :its upper portion lateral wingextensions 4 and 5, at right angles thereto, adapted to be firmlysecured to the side frame members 6 of the article of furniture. At theupper edge of one of the lateral wings, an integral extension 7 isprovided, said extension projecting inwardly at right angles to itsadjacent wing 5 and being a apted to support the seat or top portion 8of the article of furniture.

Screws or other fastening devices 9 are used to secure the wings andextensions to the adjacent frame members. Other screws or fasteningdevices 11 are set into the corner post through holes formed atspacedintervalsin the respective sides of the central angle portion 2 of theplate, and thus extend at right angles tdeach other.

The an lar central ortion of the plate, as shown 1n Fig. 2, pre erablycovers the inner edgeof the corner post over the full width of the sideframe members, although its lateral wings are preferably provided onlyadjacent its upper portionf Adjacent the central portion of the anglesection means for the attachment of the end of one of the flexiblemembers of the tensioning device is provided. This means may comprise ahook 12 firmly attached to the edge ofthe plate, as shown in Fig. 1, ormay be formed. of integral portions of the angle section. As is shown inFig. 2, the fastening means for the tensioning device comprises two lat-Mill) iio tures to receive the shanks of screw-bolts 23. Saidscrew-bolts are each provided with hook-shaped head portions 24providing curved transverse grooves 25 Within which the flexible membersextending to the corner posts of an article of furniture are adapted tofrictionally engage. Each of the screwthreaded shanks of said bolts isplaced.

through one of the upturned ends of said body member so as to project inan outward direction, and an adjusting nut 26 is engaged thereover in aposition to abut against the end face of said upturned portion of thebody. A pair of flexible members, such as wire cables 27 having loops 28formed at their free ends, are engaged at their end portions with thehooks 12 of the corner plates and have their intermediate portionsengaged with the respective transverse grooves of the hook-shaped headportions of the tensioning device. It will be noted, as-is shown in Fig.3, that the flexible elements cross each other at a central pointbeneath the article of furniture and that the cables are crossed inopposite directions above one another on opposite sides of saidtensioning device. This arrangement results in holding the tensioningdevice rigidly beneath the article of furniture so that the desireddegree of tension may be placed upon the flexible members.

When the tensioning device is operated, the corner posts will be drawninwardly against the side members and hold the same in rigid relation.Owing to the difl'erent directions in which the screws are placed. ahigh degree of tension may be applied without danger of separating theplates from their adjacent frame members.

It will be noted that the form of device shown in Fig. 2 may be stampedfrom sheet metal of the proper thickness and may be cheaply manufacturedand easily applied. The usual corner blocks are dispensed with and inplace thereof fastening elements are supplied which make it possible tocompensate for any lost motion between the parts of an article which maydevelop through the drying out of the wood or through severe or longcontinued use.

Where a lesser degree of adjustment is adequate for the tensioningdevice, the same may be formed, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of thedrawing, wherein the base plate 31 is provided with one upturned end 32similar tothe device shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and at the opposite end isprovided with a stationary outwardly-turned hook-shaped head 33, havinga curved transverse groove within which one of the flexible members extending to the corner posts of the article of furniture is adapted tofrictionally engage. A screw-bolt, identical with those described inconnection with Figs. 3 and 4, is adapted to engage through an aperturein the upturned end 32 of the modified form of base plate. Theadjustment for the entire device is, of course, made only from one end.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided. the means stated by any of the followingclaims or theequivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:"

1. An article of the character described, having in combination aplurality of corner posts, side frame members positioned betweenadjacent corner posts, fastening elements engaging said corner posts andsaid side frame members to hold said parts in rigid. engagement witheach other, and a hook on said respective fastening elements formed of apair of integral rearwardly pressed lateral extensions of said fasteningelements whereby they may be directly interconnected with each other.

2. An article of the character described, having in combination aplurality of corner posts. side frame members positioned betweenadjacent corner posts, the faces of each corner post adjacent the innercorner thereof lying inwardly of the point of junction of said sideframe members therewith. fastening elements engaging said corner postsand said exposed inner faces of each of such side frame members to holdsaid parts in rigid engagement with each other, a hook formed of a pairof integral rearwardly pressed lateral extensions of said fasteningelements, and means for interconnecting said hooks.

3. An article of the character described, having in combination aplurality of corner posts, side and top frame members positioned betweenadjacent corner posts, the faces of each corner post adjacent the innercorner thereof lying inwardly of the point of junction of said sideframe members therewith, fastening elements engaging said exposed innerfaces of each of such corner posts-and the side, and top frame memberstoghold said parts in rigid engagement with each other, a hook formedofa pair of integral rearwardly pressed lateral extensions of saidfastening elements whereby they may be interconnected with each other,

4. A tensioning device for a furniture brace comprising a solid baseplate, an integral extension at one end thereof positioned atrightangles to the body portion of said base plate and provided with acentral aperture, a cable-engaging member rigidly mounted on said plateand spaced from said plate extension, a movable member having a terminaldesigned to engage'a cable and an integral screw-threaded shank of asize to pass freely through" said aperture in said base plate extension,and means bearing against said plate extension and engaging saidscrew-threaded shank to change the position of said movablecable-engaging member relatively to said fixed cable-engaging member.

5. A tensioning device for a furniture brace comprising a solid baseplate, an integral extension at one end thereof positioned at rightangles to the body portion of said base plate and provided with acentral aperture, a cable-engaging member ofV-shape rigidly mounted onsaid plate and. spaced from said plate extension, a

movable member of V-shape having a terminal designed to engage a cable.and an integral screw-threaded shank of a size to ass freely throughsaid aperture in said ase plate extension, and means bearing againstsaid plate extension and engaging said screw-threaded shank to changethe position sion, a ooved inwardly faced movable member aving aterminal designed to engage a cable and an integral screw-threaded shankof a size to pass freely through said aperture in said base plateextension, and means bearing against said. plate extension and engagingsaid screw-threaded shank to change the position of said movablecableengaging member relatively to said fixed cable-engaging member.

7. A tensioning device fora furniture brace comprising. a solid baseplate, an in; tegral extension at one end thereof positioned at rightangles to the body portion of said base plate and provided with acentral aperture, a cable-engaging member, having a friction groove,rigidly mounted on said plate and spaced from said plate extension, amovable member having a terminal having a friction groove designed toengage a cable and provided with an integral screw-threaded shank of asize to pass freely through said aperture=in said ase plate extension,and a rotatable nut bearing against said plate extension and adjustableon said screw-threaded shank tochange the position of said movablecable-engaging member relatively to said fixed cable-engaging member.

Signed by me this 14 day of April, 1925.

THEODORE H. WITTLIFF.

